1
as in wicked
tending to or exhibiting reckless playfulness
the children had been so mischievous that we had to pay the babysitter extra and then clean up the mess
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in naughty
engaging in or marked by childish misbehavior
punished for their mischievous tricks on the neighbors
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in dangerous
causing or capable of causing harm
mischievous gossip that ruined a good teacher's reputation
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of mischievous
Tall and lean, with bright eyes and a mischievous grin that recalled Peter O’Toole in one of his friskier moods, DePlume switched positions to lie on his back on the mat, beneath a partner.
—
Nick Paumgarten, The New Yorker, 24 Mar. 2025
Like why an internet-famous cat named Monkey has such a mischievous little smile.
—Manuela López Restrepo, NPR, 19 Mar. 2025
The mischievous dog appeared to have chewed items that she wasn't supposed to, leaving a mess strewn all over the floor.
—Josh Hammer, Newsweek, 19 Mar. 2025
However dated that now sounds, the pair were photographed time and again in all their stylish glory, and more often than not, smiling or laughing — with that indescribable, and sometimes mischievous, verve.
—Rosemary Feitelberg, WWD, 18 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for mischievous
Nick Paumgarten, The New Yorker, 24 Mar. 2025
Like why an internet-famous cat named Monkey has such a mischievous little smile.
—Manuela López Restrepo, NPR, 19 Mar. 2025
The mischievous dog appeared to have chewed items that she wasn't supposed to, leaving a mess strewn all over the floor.
—Josh Hammer, Newsweek, 19 Mar. 2025
However dated that now sounds, the pair were photographed time and again in all their stylish glory, and more often than not, smiling or laughing — with that indescribable, and sometimes mischievous, verve.
—Rosemary Feitelberg, WWD, 18 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for mischievous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mischievous
Adjective
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Based on the famed Brothers Grimm tale, the story follows a princess who is rescued by seven dwarf miners who make Snow White part of their household after she’s exiled into a dangerous forest by her wicked stepmother.—
Zac Ntim,
Deadline,
16 Apr. 2025
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The offence O’Reilly’s draft day scouting reports suggested the Oilers chose a middle-six centre (second or third line) with wicked checking ability and enough offence to project into a feature role if everything worked out.—
Allan Mitchell,
New York Times,
13 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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They are seen flinging a pizza box into their bucolic yard, smearing their faces with paint, raising their middle fingers, and saying naughty words.—
Peter Tonguette,
Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government,
21 Mar. 2025
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Listen to this article There’s nice Torrey Pines and naughty Torrey Pines.—
Bryce Miller,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
23 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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Prioritising one competition in favour of another is a dangerous game to play in any case when the stakes are so high.—
Mark Critchley,
New York Times,
19 Apr. 2025
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The most immediate context for this comment is presumably both the backlash to Hogwarts Legacy and the ongoing backlash over Rowling’s views writ large regarding trans women being dangerous predators.—
Aja Romano,
Vox,
18 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Johansson brings a playful, global sensibility to Greenlandic staples—using local ingredients like capelin and ptarmigan in ways that draw from both Asian and Mediterranean influences.—
Jordi Lippe-McGraw,
Forbes.com,
24 Apr. 2025
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This playful, colorful apartment block designed by Friedensreich Hundertwasser ignores straight lines entirely and proves that architecture can be joyful rebellion.—
Lilah Ramzi,
Vogue,
24 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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That means more time for Rojas, who has shown more bad than good to begin this season.—
Matt Gelb,
New York Times,
18 Apr. 2025
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The first questions from out-of-staters are, 'How bad are the hurricanes?—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
17 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Confusing a congressional edict to end segregation with DEI policies that have no genesis in the Black Civil Rights movement to end Jim Crow is historically ignorant, disrespectful, and harmful to the urgent need to focus on resolving continuing racial inequalities in public education.—
Raymond Pierce,
Forbes.com,
25 Apr. 2025
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For every person who happily sets 4:00 a.m. alarms on race morning, there’s another convinced the sport is too hard, too boring, or a waste of time, if not outright harmful.—
Cindy Kuzma,
SELF,
25 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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These glassy encasements elevated each itty-bitty snapshot of kitschy urban ephemera (a taxi cab, a bodega coffee cup, a slice of pizza, a smiley-face plastic shopping bag) to a surprising elegance—undercut with impish humor.—
Marina Harss,
New Yorker,
4 Apr. 2025
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At least Elvis Costello’s legendary false start from ’78 was referenced, albeit by an impish Eddie Vedder, not Costello himself.—
Chris Willman,
Variety,
15 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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In the study, the researchers measured patients’ impulse control behavior disorders, excessive daytime sleepiness, blood pressure changes and weight changes, and found that the adverse effects linked to tavapadon were no different from those who received a placebo.—
Melissa Rudy,
FOXNews.com,
18 Apr. 2025
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So far, Lilly said the adverse effects of its new pill are consistent with GLP-1s, a class of medications primarily used to treat type 2 diabetes.—
Jonathan Limehouse,
USA Today,
18 Apr. 2025
Video
'Mispronunciations' That May Be Fine
'Mischievous,' 'nuclear,' and other words to pronounce with caution.
Cite this Entry
“Mischievous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mischievous. Accessed 1 May. 2025.
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